How Do Co-Ops Work? (Frequently Asked Questions)

Employee ownership is an effective strategy for business owners wanting to pass along a business they’ve been building for a long time to the people who have the most at stake. But even if you’re already familiar with the types of employee ownership you might be curious about whether a worker cooperative would work for you. To help… Continue reading How Do Co-Ops Work? (Frequently Asked Questions)

Types of Employee Ownership

Mother and daughter shop at an employee-owned grocery store in Colorado

Employee ownership is one of the best ways to preserve your company culture, make your business more resilient, promote an inclusive workplace, and give back to your employees. But just like a traditionally owned business, an employee owned company can take on many different forms. That’s why comparing the different types of employee ownership is… Continue reading Types of Employee Ownership

An Economy That Works For Everyone: Employee Ownership & The Story of RMEOC

More and more people are recognizing that our current economic system benefits a small few at the expense of many, especially working-class communities and communities of color.   What many people don’t know is that there’s a better way already taking place that represents a path forward to create a more just and sustainable economy — an economy… Continue reading An Economy That Works For Everyone: Employee Ownership & The Story of RMEOC

ESOP vs 401k: Which Is Better For Your Business?

Tax Cuts may affect your ESOP

ESOP plans offer a myriad of benefits for companies, employees, and selling owners alike. While we’d love to help every business out there promote employee ownership through an ESOP plan, we know they aren’t perfect for everyone. That’s why comparing an ESOP with other retirement plans like a 401(k) is an important step in securing the… Continue reading ESOP vs 401k: Which Is Better For Your Business?

33 Well-Known Companies Creating Equity Through Employee Ownership

Employee Ali Sonko poses in the kitchen of Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb 28, 2017. PHOTO: EPA

How popular is employee ownership? Whether in the form of an ESOP or co-op, employee ownership is more common than you might think. According to a 2018 article in the Harvard Business Review, about 10% of Americans hold equity stakes in their workplaces. That accounts for the upwards of 14 million employees who are vested employee-owners. (Colorado… Continue reading 33 Well-Known Companies Creating Equity Through Employee Ownership

Building Racial & Gender Equity Through Employee Ownership

In October 2020, the Aspen Institute hosted a webinar aimed at addressing the question: Can employee share ownership improve racial and gender wealth equity?    Speakers from worker cooperatives, think tanks, universities, and public radio came together to confront the systemic inequality that workers at the bottom end of the opportunity scale face in this economy. “Broadening opportunities… Continue reading Building Racial & Gender Equity Through Employee Ownership

Is Employee Ownership Really Better For Business?

From bakeries to auto shops to home health care networks and everything in between, employee ownership is a rising strategy in the movement to create a more equitable and inclusive economy. While some businesses are formed from the start with some type of employee ownership built in, many employee owned businesses didn’t actually start out… Continue reading Is Employee Ownership Really Better For Business?